For Awakened ones, whether they emerged alongside the disaster that destroyed the old world, or existed before, the "Old Task Force" has always lacked sufficient clues to make effective guesses.

There were many others like them. Many historians and antiquarians privately suspected that the disaster brought about two kinds of human mutations: one physical, resulting in the Subhumans, and the other mental, resulting in the Awakened.

This was because they couldn't draw conclusions about the existence of Awakened in the old world from the old world texts and artifacts they obtained, nor could they find corresponding traces.

After contacting Yan Hu and Dimarco, the "Old Task Force" pushed the timeline of the Awakened's emergence from the late Chaotic Era to the early period, and believed that at that time, there was no "Hall of Stars," no ritualistic process of exchanging three abilities for a price. However, they were never able to confirm whether there were Awakened even earlier.

Now, through the past of Linhe Village reproduced in the Buddhist Holy Land, they saw for the first time evidence that Awakened ones might have existed many years before the destruction of the old world.

This made the truth of the old world's destruction even more confusing.

Jiang Baimian's mind raced. After thinking for a while, she slowly opened her mouth and said:

"The Eighth Research Institute's main project is to study human awakening. In this process, they came into contact with the Advent Body of the Ruling Gods, discovered the 'New World,' and thus developed great ambitions, attempting to build a ladder to the forbidden zone of the gods, which brought about a disaster that almost destroyed all of humanity?"

This guess was made by combining the current situation with the past gains of the "Old Task Force."

Bai Chen heard this and was silent for a few seconds before saying:

"I suspect that the people of the Eighth Research Institute have already built a ladder to the forbidden zone of the gods."

"How do you say that?" Long Yuehong's eyes widened slightly.

Bai Chen calmly recited a series of nouns:

"'Hall of Stars', 'Sea of Origin', 'Corridor of Minds', 'New World'.

"Beyond that, it might be the 'Forbidden Zone of the Gods'."

Clap clap clap, Shang Jianyao applauded.

He said with considerable excitement:

"Entering the 'Forbidden Zone of the Gods' might lead to becoming a Ruling God."

Long Yuehong wanted to retort, but he was inexplicably horrified and didn't dare to discuss it.

At this time, Jiang Baimian lightly exhaled:

"From this perspective, the 'Hall of Stars' and this series of things that originally didn't exist may really be a ladder to the 'Forbidden Zone of the Gods'.

"But the Eighth Research Institute seems to have paid a price as well, completely becoming the dark lackeys, working hard to do certain things, like slaves."

The four members of the "Old Task Force" did not relax their observation of the group of children at the entrance of Linhe Village while discussing.

They were playing happily under the leadership of Xiao Chong, and there were no other anomalies for the time being.

Suddenly, Shang Jianyao frowned.

He kept winking, trying to attract the attention of his teammates, asking what was bothering him.

Unfortunately, it was already dark, and Jiang Baimian and others had turned off their flashlights and were hiding on the side of the old locust tree, only observing with binoculars, in order not to attract the abnormality.

In this environment, no one could notice Shang Jianyao's small facial expressions.

Finally, Shang Jianyao couldn't bear it anymore and let out a suppressed "Hey."

"What's wrong?" Jiang Baimian asked.

Shang Jianyao immediately replied:

"I just thought of a problem."

"What problem?" Long Yuehong looked towards this guy.

Shang Jianyao said heavily:

"There are thirteen Ruling Gods, just enough to allocate the twelve months plus a leap month or the whole year. If someone else enters the 'Forbidden Zone of the Gods', where will they find a new month for him to govern?"

"Maybe they co-govern a certain month?" Long Yuehong tried to guess.

"Maybe a new Ruling God is born, and an old Ruling God dies." Bai Chen said with a straight face, suggesting a terrifying possibility.

Jiang Baimian didn't speak, and began to connect this matter with the conflicts of the "New World."

Shang Jianyao smiled and spoke of his "answer":

"Maybe they will degenerate from Ruling Gods into Ruling Days. In that case, there would be more than three hundred vacancies!"

Ruling Days? Day Duty... That doesn't sound too good... Long Yuehong muttered to himself.

After talking about the "Ruling Days", Shang Jianyao looked at the entrance of Linhe Village again with satisfaction.

He said with the binoculars:

"Why don't I go say hello and interact with the young Xiao Chong?

"I think they're almost done with the fireworks and going back. It'll be hard to observe them then."

Before Jiang Baimian could make a decision, Shang Jianyao had already rushed out, shouting as he ran:

"Xiao Chong! Xiao Chong!"

Long Yuehong and others were numb to this kind of thing. After all, a mental patient who can always control himself cannot be considered a real mental patient. Only paying the price of several crosstalk sessions every day is not a real price. Jiang Baimian was a little annoyed, regretting that she had been too focused on thinking about the conflicts in the "New World" and hadn't been able to grab his collar in time, or stop him with her left hand flashing with electricity.

In this scene, the only thing they could do was retreat together and try to distance themselves.

"Xiao Chong! Xiao Chong!"

As Shang Jianyao approached, the figures of those children, led by Xiao Chong, rapidly faded and disappeared into the dark night.

Further away, the lights in Linhe Village went out at the same time.

It was once again a scene of deathly silence, desolate and bleak.

Shang Jianyao stopped and quickly said:

"Sorry! I'm disturbing you!

"I'll leave now!"

He suddenly turned around and ran back to the old locust tree.

Unfortunately, the anomaly in Linhe Village did not recover because of this.

Seeing Jiang Baimian, Long Yuehong, and Bai Chen looking over at the same time, Shang Jianyao sincerely apologized:

"I was wrong."

His attitude was so upright that Jiang Baimian couldn't continue to lecture him. After thinking for a moment, she said:

"Let's wait a little longer and see if it picks up later."

"Okay!" Shang Jianyao answered very loudly.

The "Old Task Force" waited for nearly half an hour in the cold wind, but Linhe Village remained dark and silent.

"Wait a little longer?" Long Yuehong felt that this wasn't a solution.

Shang Jianyao glanced at Linhe Village, which had merged into the darkness, and then looked down at the ground under the old locust tree.

He then revealed a sinister expression and let out a "Heh":

"Why don't we dig out Du Shaochong's bones and rebury them?"

This would be recreating the event of burial for peace.

"He's your good friend!" Jiang Baimian was amused and annoyed.

Seeing that Shang Jianyao didn't care about this at the moment, she added:

"This is the Advent Body of 'Zhuang Sheng'."

If they really dug him up like this, it might anger "Zhuang Sheng," and He could definitely use the bones to establish a stable "New World" node.

The sinister expression on Shang Jianyao's face gradually softened, and he nodded in fear, saying:

"Indeed."

Jiang Baimian then said:

"Let's retreat to a campsite one kilometer away. After dawn, we'll try to explore Linhe Village and see what we can find.

"If not, confirm whether the anomaly will appear again at night."

Long Yuehong and Bai Chen had no objections, and Shang Jianyao didn't dare to have any objections. He considered himself guilty.

…

About two kilometers away from Linhe Village, the campsite of the "Old Task Force."

After a simple dinner, Jiang Baimian ordered Shang Jianyao to be on guard around the perimeter, while she called Long Yuehong and Bai Chen over.

"Team Leader, is there something you need?" Bai Chen asked directly.

Jiang Baimian said solemnly:

"The company's concealment of the fact that the Marsh No. 1 Ruins is Dajiang City has made me somewhat doubtful about why the Big Boss wants to establish the company and provide shelter.

"This, combined with what Wei Jiang told us about the Fourth Research Institute, is indeed quite intriguing.

"The company is our home, and our relatives and friends are all in the underground building. I won't be hostile to the company for no reason, nor will I ignore these doubts. So, I plan to arrange a mission as soon as possible after this training exercise, leave the company, and gradually uncover the truth about the destruction of the old world and what the Ruling Gods are trying to do by investigating the whereabouts of Shang Jianyao's father and the location of the Eighth Research Institute.

"I believe that by then, we should be able to get an answer and determine what to do in the future.

"This is my choice, and Wei Jiang will most likely do the same, but I'm not forcing you to do the same.

"Actually, I don't even know what kind of choices I want you to make.

"You can act together, or you can stay in the company and enjoy peace and stability, waiting for us to bring back the answer.

"The former is very dangerous, and people may die at any time. The latter may receive good news, or it may be bad news, or they may not receive any news at all, and suddenly face the company's mutation.

"Well, you don't have to rush to make a decision. Just tell me your choices before returning to the company."

Bai Chen didn't answer and looked towards Long Yuehong.

Long Yuehong was silent for a long time before saying with a self-deprecating smile:

"Knowing so much, how can I stay in the company with peace of mind…

"Besides, I'm also afraid that my memories will be secretly read after a long time."

Bai Chen's expression relaxed significantly, and she followed up by saying:

"Knowing the answer in advance allows us to prepare in advance and rescue our relatives and friends within the company in time."

Her choice was self-evident.

Long Yuehong then exhaled:

"I think so too."

Clap clap clap, Shang Jianyao, who was patrolling, applauded.